News Release 493

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, AUG. 23, 2010 – A five-member team of high school students from Pembroke Hill High School in Kansas City took 11th place at the 2010 Canon Envirothon, a weeklong North American environmental education competition. This was only the third year of competition at any level for Pembroke Hill High School.

The competition, sponsored by Canon U.S.A. Inc., was held Aug. 1-6 at California State University in Fresno, CA.. More than 270 teenagers from 45 U.S. states and nine Canadian provinces studied environmental issues and resource conservation, while competing for a share of more than $100,000 in scholarships and prizes. Each student on the Missouri team won a digital camera and an award plaque. The team advisors and sponsoring agency (Jackson County Soil and Water Conservation District) each received Canon products. The team’s members are Austin Caldwell, Foster Honeck, Jeffrey Rubel, Riley Sloan and Richard Wright. Their advisors were SueAnn Wright and Rick Wright.

The Canon Envirothon tests students on their knowledge of soils and land use, aquatic ecology, forestry, wildlife and an additional current environmental issue. The theme of this year’s competition was “Protection of Groundwater Through Urban, Agricultural and Environmental Planning.”

Each team’s knowledge is tested under the supervision of foresters, soil scientists, wildlife specialists and other natural resource professionals. Teamwork, problem solving and presentation skills are evaluated as each team offers a panel of judges an oral presentation containing recommendations for solving the specific challenge that is presented during the competition.

“This shows that students are engaged and want to be involved in natural resource issues,” said Department of Natural Resources Natural Director Mark N. Templeton. “Contests such as the envirothon help promote awareness of the world we live in and the actions we need to take to responsibly preserve it.”

Sponsors for the Missouri Envirothon include the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, the Missouri Association of Soil and Water Conservation Districts, local soil and water conservation districts, the Missouri Department of Conservation, the Missouri Soil and Water Conservation Districts Employee Association, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, the University of Missouri Extension and the Show-Me Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.

The 2011 national competition will be held at Mt. Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada from July 24-29.

For more information about the Missouri Envirothon, contact Judy Stinson at 800-361-4827 or 573-751-4932 or Peggy Lemons at 573-893-5188, ext. 3.